Super Foods for Runners - Almonds

Runners should  eat a small handful of almonds at least three to five times per week.  Nuts are an excellent source of Vitamin E.  Almonds in particular pack a punch of Vitamin E, a hard to find antioxidant as there  are so few good food sources of it.  Studies have shown that eating nuts several times per week lowers cholesterol levels, especially the LDL or bad type, which in turn decreases your risk for heart disease.  Additionally, the form of vitamin E found in nuts, called gamma-tocopherol (a form not typically found in supplements), may also help protect against cancer.

Almonds and other nuts are easy to add to your diet.  Sprinkle them in salads or pasta dishes, use as a topping for casseroles, or my personal favorite, add chopped up almonds to a bowl of oatmeal.  You can make your own trail mix, too.  Mix almonds with soy nuts, dried fruit and chocolate bits for an on the go treat.  I also recommend trying almond butter which is lighter and has more health benefits than peanut butter.  Try it spread on whole wheat toast or on a whole grain tortilla topped with raisins and rolled up.  Store nuts in an air-tight container such as a zipper bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.  Or place them in the freezer.  Almonds will keep between two and four months in a bag and one to two months longer when in the freezer.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fooey/3647148411/

August 24th, 2009 by Aspen Streetman | Posted in Uncategorized | (0)